Live mannequins bring holiday cheer to St. Joseph's sixth annual Light up the Bluff celebration Friday, December 7

The live mannequin displays, sponsored by the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council and St. Joseph Today, are part of an evening brimming with family entertainment, refreshments and shopping fun. Courtesy Photo

This year's Light up the Bluff celebration, Dec. 7, in downtown St.
Joseph, Mich. introduces a new twist to brighten the holidays for all
ages. More than 30 storefront and business windows will feature live
mannequins posing perfectly still in scenes depicting classic holiday
stories and nostalgic holiday memories from 7-8:30 p.m.“What makes this
new event awesome is most of the live mannequins are volunteers from the
community,” said Jill Stone, executive director, St. Joseph Today.
“You’ll look into a store window and recognize local celebrities, as
well as some of your neighbors and people from your church. Of course,
it’s always fun to see if you can get them to smile back at you.”The
live mannequin displays, sponsored by the Southwestern Michigan Tourist
Council and St. Joseph Today, are part of an evening brimming with
family entertainment, refreshments and shopping fun.Free horse-drawn trolley rides through the Victorian-era downtown, 2-4 p.m. (sponsored by Frederick S. Upton Foundation)

Sixth Annual Light Up the Bluff Opening Ceremony, Lake Blvd. and Broad St., 6-6:30 p.m. Mayor Robert Judd will throw the breaker to light the 20 ft. community tree, sparkling reindeer, magical fountain and numerous holiday displays ablaze with thousands of lights in the city park overlooking Lake Michigan. The St. Joseph High School Choir, as well as carolers strolling along Lake Blvd. from Ship St. to Park St., will contribute to the festivities. This St. Joseph Improvement Association- sponsored event will continue to provide holiday cheer every evening until mid-February.

Courtesy Photo

LiveStatue, Silver Beach Center boardwalk, 333 Broad St., 6-9 p.m. Renowned performing artist Robert Shangle returns to St. Joseph. Children and adults will grin at his antics as he winks or changes his poses. Visitors also will enjoy seeing how Santa’s helpers have transformed the carousel house into a winter wonderland. There, for small fee, all ages can ride the carousel, or at no cost watch the miniature train wind its way through the Christmas village, play family games, try the hands-on exhibits at the Silver Beach Amusement Park Museum and much more.

St. Joseph Today is a member-based organization dedicated to developing and promoting events and business in St. Joseph, Mich. For more information about the Live Mannequin event or upcoming holiday celebrations, visit stjoetoday.com, facebook.com/stjoetoday or call 269-985-1111.